Improvement in sheet-metal cans



JOHN .W|DGERY.

Sheet Metal Cans. No. 124,466. Patentedmaroh12,1a72..

Figj.

TATES JOHN WIDGERY, OF PLUMSTEAD, ENGLAND.

lMPROVEMENT IN SHEET-METAL CANS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 124,466, dated March 12, 1872.

I, JOHN VIDGERY, of Plumstead, England, tin-plate worker, have invented certain Improvements in Metal Cans, Cases, and Boxes, of which the following is a specification:

The object of the said invention is the production of a metal can, case, or box, which, When hermetically sealed or closed, may be opened Without the use of a knife or other insftrnment.

The manner in which I accomplish this object is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which I will now proceed to describe.

Figure l is a perspective view of a sardine box or case with the cover soldered thereon according -to my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the said box opened.. Figs. i and 4; are similar views of a tin or case for preserved mill;I or the like, showing' the application of my invention to the same.

The case or box a, Figs. l and 2, is made of tin or other suitable metal, and the various parts are united by soldering them together in the manner in which such Work is usually accomplished. Y

The distinguishing feature of this inventio is the manner of forming the soldered joint, by which the cover b is secured and hcrmetically sealed on the box or case. Y I

The top of the box a has an inside rimor 11a-nge, al, upon which the cover rests. At one corner, a2, ofthe box this flange is made much Wider than at the other portions, as shown. The soldered joint is indicated by the' dotted lines ai; and it will be seen that the cover, at the part b', projects beyond the soldered joint, this projecting portion forming an unsoldered lap, which, nevertheless, lies iiat, and therefore offers no obstruction to the packing of the boxes. In making these boxes, the corner a2 may be formed in A one piece with the rim a1,- orit may be first soldered on the cover to form a portion thereof, and then soldered with the cover on the said rim. When this piece a2 is thus first attached to the cover, the bottom of the box is first soldered on the same, leaving the aperture at the top open for the introduction of the sardines. When the box or case has been filled, the cover b is p laced over the said aperture7` and is made perfectly'tight by soldering it all round upon the rim or iiange al, the piece a2 being also soldered and made tight thereon, as indicated by the continuation of the lines a?? from 1 to 2. It must be understood that, in soldering is piece a2 onthe cover b, the latter has the aforesaid unsoldered side of the cover has been thus opened, the.

remainder ofthe soldered portions a* separate with very little force applied to the ring, and the cover may be pulled back, as shown in Fig. 2, and completely removed from the case or box.

other part ofthe rim al, the cover will be soldered on the box before the bottom ofthe box is put on, in order to allow the joint at l 2 to be properly made. Then the box is filled, and the bottom soldered thereon in the usual manner. When the box is to be opened, the lap b', with the adjacent soldered joint l 2, is first raised and pulled back by the ring c, and the cover is then removed, as above described.

I attach the Wire ring c or loop to one corner of the cover b by turning the corner over the ring and securing the turned-down portion by solder and when the small separate piece a? is used, I solder itupon this portion ot' the cover in such a manner that the ring and the part to which it is attached project beyond the soldered joint, leaving the unsoldered lap b, as above described, with the ring at the outer edge of the same.

I may apply my invention in the same man ner to the ends of round or cylindrical cans or cases; but I prefer to modify the said iuvention for these vessels, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. I apply to the end ot' the can e either a plain disk or a cover, b, with a rim, b', such as is commonly used for similar vessels. Then I iit a narrow metal strip or b and, f, around the periphery of the top of the vessel and the edge or rim of the cover, and solder the same all round the top 3 of the box and the rim b', thereby securing the cover b upon the vessel e, asv shown in Fig. 3. The object of my inventi on in this modification thereof is accomplished by leaving one end of the metal band f pro jecting at f over the other end, this projecting If the piece a2 is made in one piece with the I y portion or lap being` unsoldered, as above described, and provided with a loop or ring, c, of cord or other suitable flexible material, by pulling which the soldered joint may be broken and the endf of the band j' separated from the other part. When this end is thus pulled away from the can or case, the metal bandj' may be taken completely oil', and the cover Will be detached.

I may, in like manner, apply a metal band, with one end overlapping,` the other, to a boX or case similar to that shown iu Fig. 1; also to boxes or cases which have a loose cover lit-ted Within the hermeticallysealed cover; and I may otherwise modify my invention in detail, While retaining the essential principle thereof. And I may apply my invention to cases or boxes, of any size, shape, or construction, to be used for containing,` food or other perishable substances 5 powder, cartridges. and the like, "for military purposes 5 and any other substances or articles which it is desirable or necessary should be packed vin hermetically-sealed cases for storage or transport.

Claims. Y'

1. Attaching and hermetically sealing th cover upon a metal case or boX by a soldered joint, so made as that a portion of the covering-plate shall'overlap the soldered joint to forni an exterior loose or unsoldered lap, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. In combination with the loose or unsol dered lap of the cover, a ring, loop, or other equivalent device, to facilitate the breaking of the soldered joint in opening the box or case, as herein set forth.

JOHN VIDGERY.

Witnesses:

E. G. JACKSON,

8 Soathmnpton Eldgs., DAN. PORTI-IAM,

24C Rog/LZ Each., Londo/n. 

